Modernising Schools on Anglesey O
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ISLE OF ANGLESEY COUNTY COUNCIL Report to: Executive Committee Date: 12 January 2015 Subject: Modernising Schools on Anglesey – combined Strategic Outline Case and Outline Business Case for a new primary school in Holyhead Portfolio Holder(s): Councillor Ieuan Williams Head of Service: Gwynne Jones Report Author: Emrys Bebb Tel: E-mail: Local Members: Councillor Robert Llewelyn Jones Councillor Raymond Jones Councillor J. Arwel Roberts A –Recommendation/s and reason/s At its meeting on December 10, 2012, the Isle of Anglesey County Council Executive Committee resolved to recommend the merger of 3 schools i.e. Ysgol y Parc, Ysgol Llaingoch and Ysgol Y Parchedig Thomas Ellis in a new school as the preferred option for formal consultation and that the preferred site for the new primary school in Holyhead be the Cybi site. On May 19, 2014 officers were authorised to move to the formal consultation process. The proposal for formal consultation was for a primary school for 540 pupils and 75 nursery pupils by combining the pupils from Ysgol Y Parchedig Thomas Ellis, Ysgol Llaingoch and Ysgol Y Parc in a new building on the Cybi site. The status of the school being consulted upon was for it to be a Voluntary Controlled Church in Wales school (in the same manner as the Parchedig Thomas Ellis School). On November 3, 2014, the Executive Committee resolved that: “Three schools – Ysgol Parchedig Thomas Ellis, Ysgol Llaingoch and Ysgol y Parc – be merged in a new school building on the Cybi site and that the proposed new school will be a Voluntary Controlled Church in Wales school.” Welsh Government will provide 50% of the finance for this project and they require local authorities to complete business cases to justify expenditure. This business case for Holyhead is a combined Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and Outline Business Case (OBC). The Welsh Government has allowed officers from the Authority to prepare a combined SOC/OBC to save time an effort rather that preparing an individual SOC followed by an OBC. Approval of the combined SOC/OBC by the Welsh Government (WG) will mean that they give approval for finance from WG to be released for the project. Page 1 of 5 The document is broken down into five main sections:- Strategic Economic Commercial Financial Managerial The Strategic section sets out the strategic context and the case for change, together with the supporting investment objectives for the scheme. This section also outlines what the new school will accomplish.It will: improve the standards of teaching and learning for pupils in Holyhead. be a 2.5 form entry school with year groups assembled together but in separate classrooms. Small breakout areas are also proposed for each year group, close to the classrooms which will allow for small numbers of pupils to be taught away from mainstream classes, when appropriate. The new building will also make the best use of modern technology, with wireless technology, interactive whiteboards, flexible learning spaces and a community space which will have access to technology. Be a community asset, designed for community use, with its non-teaching spaces easily accessible. Allow the Headteacher of the new school to have up to a high % of non-teaching time in order to concentrate on standards and outcomes. Deliver significant improvements in energy efficiency and sustainability. Cater for the growth in pupil numbers and is planned to have 7% of spare places in 2016. This part of the SOC/OBC explains how the proposed scheme fits within, supports and promotes the Authority’s agreed strategy and work programme of which it is an integral part. In doing so, it explains how the proposed scheme helps to achieve the business goals, strategic aims and plans of the Authority. The Economic section demonstrates that the Authority has selected a preferred way forward, which best meets the existing and future needs of the service and is likely to optimise value for money (“VFM”). It also describes how the Authority has developed its strategy and case for investment in the scheme on the basis of the Authority’s overarching strategies. The Commercial section outlines the proposed commercial arrangements underpinning the scheme and how the Authority will use the North Wales Schools and Public Buildings Contractor Framework to cut down procurement time and costs. The specification of the school is also outlined. An important part of the project is community benefits such as 78 week apprenticeships for every £1 million spent on the project. A Design & Build approach is being adopted for the Holyhead school i.e. a contractor or contractors will be appointed to design and build the school. The purpose of the Financial is to highlight the likely funding and affordability position and the potential balance sheet treatment of the scheme section as well as setting out the indicative financial implications of the preferred way forward as set out in the Economic case and on the basis as set out in the Commercial case. The total project cost will be £8.41 million with the Authority and Welsh Government each providing £4.205 million. The Authority’s funding will be made up of £1.4 million in capital receipts and £2.805 million in unsupported borrowing. Page 2 of 5 Further detailed analysis of the financial case will be set out within the Final Business Case stage. In the Management section, it is demonstrated that the scheme is achievable and can be delivered successfully in accordance with accepted best practice. The Authority’s overall project management and governance systems for the School Modernisation Programme is outlined. The purpose of this is to show that the systems are sufficiently robust to ensure that progress is made; adequate and appropriate resources are engaged; key stakeholders are informed and involved as appropriate, and that decisions can be made in a timely manner. The arrangements reflect and recognise the scale of the spending commitment involved, the complexity of the consultation and the breadth of issues raised in the course of delivering this project. It is recommended that the Executive Committee: i. approve the combined Strategic Outline Case / Outline Business Case (SOC/OBC) for the new primary school in Holyhead and ii.approve the submission of the SOC/OBC to Welsh Government. B – What other options did you consider and why did you reject them and/or opt for this option? Several options were considered by the Executive Committee at its meeting on December 10, 2012. At that meeting, the Executive Committee decided to support Option 10 (merger of 3 schools i.e. Ysgol y Parc, Ysgol Llaingoch and Ysgol Parch. Thomas Ellis in a new school) as the Executive’s preferred option for formal consultation. The options can be seen in the report to the Executive Committee for the meeting on the above date and in the informal consultation document. Several other sites have been considered. C – Why is this a decision for the Executive? The Executive Committee is responsible for school organisation matters. D – Is this decision consistent with policy approved by the full Council? Yes DD – Is this decision within the budget approved by the Council? Yes – It is one of the plans in the Strategic Outline Programme that was approved by the Executive Committee on January 13, 2014. Page 3 of 5 E – Who did you consult? What did they say? 1 Chief Executive / Strategic Leadership Team (SLT) (mandatory) 2 Finance / Section 151 (mandatory) 3 Legal / Monitoring Officer (mandatory) 5 Human Resources (HR) Planned merger of 3 schools has staffing implications and possible transfers/redundancies therefore need to ensure sufficient consultation with affected employees. 6 Property (Head of Planning and As far as Modernising Schools on Anglesey – Public Protection) combined Strategic Outline Case and Outline Business Case for a new primary school in Holyhead is concerned, looking at the Report’s section F, you will be aware of the risks to any project in terms of obtaining the relevant Planning consents – in this case planning permission and two listed building consents (which lie in the hands of the Welsh Government Planning Division and CADW and not the Council as the Local Planning Authority). The planning risk is recognised in the OBC on page 55 “Approach planning officers for advise at key stages” and it would be reasonable to note the planning risk in the Report in section F particularly as the programme appears optimistic and does not mention Listed Building Consent. “ Planning Application Feb 2015 Submitted Planning Application May 2015 Determined “ – page 68 I’m aware that Planning Officers have had meetings with the Design Lead / Project Manager. [The Development Management Manager] is more than happy to further discuss the programme and any technical issues (these can be considered by the multi-disciplinary Development Team). This will help mitigate these risks. 7 Information Communication Technology (ICT) 8 Scrutiny Page 4 of 5 9 Local Members 10 Any external bodies / other/s F – Risks and any mitigation (if relevant) 1 Economic 2 Anti-poverty 3 Crime and Disorder 4 Environmental 5 Equalities 6 Outcome Agreements 7 Other FF - Appendices: G - Background papers (please contact the author of the Report for any further information): 1. Executive Committee meeting minutes for December 10, 2012. 2. Informal Consultation Document 3. Strategic Outline Programme (SOP) presented to the Welsh Government in December 2013. 4. Letter from the Welsh Government dated January 31 2014. 5. Minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on November 3, 2014. Page 5 of 5 COMBINED STRATEGIC OUTLINE CASE & OUTLINE BUSINESS CASE (OBC) A New Primary School in Holyhead, Anglesey Issue Date: December 2014 84 Combined Strategic Outline Case & Outline Business Case: Holyhead v_26 CONTENTS 1.